Nature of New York: Nature Journal

Kingdom: Plant, Phylum: Magnoliophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Scrophulariales, Family: Scrophulariaceae, Genus: Verbascum, Species: Verbasum thapsus

Common mullein - Verbascum thapsus, is known in the U.S. as a common, invasive alien. It was brought over by European settlers and traditionally used as a medicinal herb in the mid-1700s. The leaves and flowers can be made into a tea and used as a remedy for coughs, diarrhea, and asthma. The leaves also work as a stimulant for the lungs when smoked. Oil from its flowers can be used to treat ear infections, hemorroids, inflammations, infections, and more (http://www.nyctophilia.net). The plant also produces a menthol extract used as an insecticide for mosquito larvae. In Virginia, it was used as a fish poison and quickly spread through the United States, becoming more established throughout the east (http://www.nps.gov).

I came across this interesting plant on the trail leading to Breezy Point. It's appearance is eye-catching and looks similar to a corn stalk. On my trip to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge there were numerous Common mullein plants throughout the West Pond Trail.


Group of mature Common Mullein. Photo taken by me @ JBWR

Description, Habitat & Range:
Common mullein, a biennial plant. It is also known as "wooly mullein", "Lamb's Ears", "Flannel mullein", and "blanketweed". Mullein seeds are tiny and can lay in the soil for decades before germinating. Seeds are released by the parent plant during the fall and winter. A single plant can produce anywhere from 100,000-180,000 seeds which remain operable for over 100 years! Many insects attempt to pollinate the common mullein, however, only select bees are successful at pollinating this plant. If the plant has not yet been pollinated by an insect, it will self-pollinate. (http://en.wikipedia.org)

Mature mullein grow up to 5 to 10 feet in height (including their flowering stalk). Their flowering bloom lasts from June to August. Their clustered yellow flowers are small, velvety in texture, and consist of 5 petals. The plant takes a little over two years to mature, flower, and die. In their first summer cycle, mullein germinate and then produce a tap root and a rosette of bluish gray-green, felt-like leaves. During this vegetative phase, the first-year mullein are low-growing and their leaf size ranges from 4-12 inches in length and 1-5 inches in width. The leaves are much larger towards the base of the weed.

Common mullein grow in areas where the average annual precipitation is between 3-6 inches. In addition, the growing season must last for at least 140 days. Mullein thrive in open, unshaded areas. The plant prefers dry, sandy soil but will also grow in open areas of forests, meadows and industrial wastelands. This invasive plant is common across North America, Hawaii, Europe, and Asia.

Management of the Common Mullein:
Common mullein is known as an "ecological threat" and can be difficult to manage. Common Mullein can spread easily and quickly. Once established, these plants can easily take over areas where native plants usually grow. New and continued growth can be managed by hand-pulling, hoeing, raking, and sowing native plant seeds. There is only one seed predator of the common mullein plant. Larvae of the Mullein Seed Eating Weevil - Gymnetron tetrum, eat the seeds inside of the developing seed capsules.(www.nps.gov , www.co.lincoln.was.us)

Mullein Seed Eating Weevil http://www.insects.at

Interesting History:

In addition to its medicinal uses across Europe, Common mullein has an important history within Greek mythology. Ulysses was given a stalk of common mullein by the Gods for protection again the enchantress Circe.
Ancient Greeks and Romans used mullein stalks as torches.
During the Middle Ages, its "powers" were used to ward off evil spirits and demons. (www.co.lincoln.was.us, http://wssa.net)